Radiator shield for motor vehicles



Feb 2 9 1926. 1,571,354

C. J. WHITACRE RADIATOR SHIELD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 17 1922 anoe/ntoz I (2mm j/Dfizcze R54 w my Patented Feb, 2, 1926.

1,511,354 UNITED STATES PATENT'.OFFICE.- I

CLARENCE J. WHITACRE, OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RADIATOR SHIELD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' directly'upon the core injure the same.

Application filed June 17, 1922. Serial No. 569,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE J. WHIT- ACRE, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Janesville, county of Rock, and State of Wisconsin, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Radiator Shields for Motor Vehicles, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being made therein to the accoma panying drawings, which form a part of this specification.-

My invention relates to motor driven vehicles, and particularly to the radiators of tractors and trucks; and the object thereof is to provide an improved foraminous metal shield or screen designed to overlie the front end ofthe radiator core and to protect it from injury, as well also as to prevent leaves, trash, etc., from lodging upon the front exposed surface of the radiator core, which would act to impede the flow of air therethrough. The principal object and effect ofmy invention, however, is to protect the comparatively frail radiator core structure from injury by external objects; 'to which end the screen or shield is-of strong construction, and is so held relative to .the radiator core as to offer great resistance to forces which should they act would be likely to In the drawing accompanying and forminga part of this specification, and wherein V the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated: 1 Figure 1'1s a view showing a radiator of a truck or tractor in elevation and as seen Figure 4: is a similar view in side el'evation.

Figures 5'and 6 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4, butshowing my invention modified slightly as to some of'the features thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numerals 10-, 10 designate oppositely disposed side columns extending between upper and, lower water chambers 11, 12 which are connected with the engine to be cooled by suitable pipes 13, 14; the cellular core of the radiator beinghoused between the side columns, and the upper and lower ends thereof being in communication with the waterchambers, so that the cooling liquid may flow downward through the radiator; said water ,chambers serving to distribute the liquid cooling medium vu iformly throughout the upper and 10 or ends of the cellular core structure to thereby secure uniformity of flow through all.

through which the cooling liquid flows; andthe same is a comparative fragile structure and one; liable to injury from external objects coming into contact therewith. In the radiator construction illustrated the core is provided with upper and lower headers or plates the peripheries of which are clamped between flanges 15. 16 of the water chambers and cooperating flanges at the ends of the side columns 10, 10 by spaced bolts 17, al-

though other constructions may be used as this present lnvention is in no way concerned with radiator construction per se.

My improved radiator guard or shield is a forammousstructure shown as made up of vertical and horizontal'wires-18,-19 inter woven with one another as is usual in WlIG or fabr1c-art1cles; the outside wires 20, 21' being much heavier than the others and being in fact rods or frames'about which the ends of the horizontal wires arebent to thereby provide a strong structure.' The -upper and lower ends ofthe vertical wires 18 are held between the sides of. U-shaped strips of metal 22, 23 which, as said sides are flattened orpressed together, act to clasp and hold said ends; and. act also to ,form

sm'ooth' upper and lower frame members oredges for the guard.

My improved radiator shield is assembled with a radiator by curving it slightly and inserting the frame members or strips 22, 23,

back of projecting portions, i. e., the heads or the nuts-of the bolts 17, and between said portions and-the radiator core at the upper and lower ends thereof; after which the of the core structure and the water chambers" when the shield is in place; the inherentresilience of the screen being sufficient, ordi narily, to hold the upper and lower ends thereof in proper position between the bolts and the core after the screen has been curved slightly and properly put in place over the radiator core. 1

The len th of the shield may be such that it will be eld in a slightly bowed position as shown in-Figures 2 and 4, 'or it may be of such length that after having been put in place it will lie substantially parallel with the front face of'the core as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows also a modified form of peripheral frame wherein both the side and upper and lower frame. strips 24, 25 .are formed by flattening the sides of U-s'haped metal strips onto the ends of both the vertical and horizontal wires of the shield,

thereby providing a smoother periphery throughout than is the case in the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 wherein theends of the horizontal wires are bent about the heavy side wires or rods 20, 21. The shield after having been finished and before it is assembled with the radiator is commonly dipped-into a suitable japan varnish bath to thereby provide a coating thereupon, or it ma be galvanized or otherwise finished,- as wil' be appreciated.

Having thus described and explaine d;my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:'

1. In combination, a radiator having an intermediate core, an upper water chamber secured to said core by suitable fastening members, and a lower water chamber secured also'to said core by suitable fastening members; and a foraminous shield or guard overlying the front of said core and the upper and lower edges of which extend along the joints between said core and said upper and lower water chambers and are held inplace by the fastening members whereby the water chambers and the core are secured together. 2.'In combination, a radiator having an intermediate core, an upper water chamber secured .to said core by spaced fastening bolts, and a lower water chamber secured also to said core by spaced fastening bolts; and a foraminous shield or guard overlying the front. of said core and the upper and and lower edges of which extend along the joints between said core and said upper and lower water chambers and lie between projecting portions of' said bolts and the radiator core. l l

3. In combination, a radiator having upends of which are securedto the flanges of said water chamber; and a foraminous shield ard overlying the front of said core section and the upper and lower edges of which extend along and beneath and above the flanges aforesaid and lying in the angles between saidcore section and said flanges.

4'. A foraminous radiator guard or'shield comprising horizontal and" vertical wires spaced apart to provide openings; U-shaped metallic strips extendin along the upper and lower edges of sa1dguard, and enclosing the upper and lower ends of said vertical wires; and strengthening rods at the sides of said shield and the upper and lower ends of which extend into the strips aforesaid, and to'which the ends of said horizontal wires are connected.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature. I

CLARENCE J. VVHITACRE. 

